Separator for producing dry steam



y 29, 1952 w. R. WILLIAMSON ET AL 2,604,957

SEPARATOR FOR PRODUCING DRY STEAM Filed March 20, 1951 a n o s m John P. Tyskewicz Inventors Attorney Patented July 29, 1952 2,604,957 V ii SEPARATOR FOR PRoDU'oiNi} DRY STEAM William R. Williamson and JohnP. Tyskewicz,

Hartford, Conn., assignors to The Maxim. Silencer Company, Hartford, Conn.,.a c'orpo-x ration of Connecticut Application March 20, 1951, Serial -No. 21 6, 5 8

l The present invention relates to a separator for producing dry steam from a mixture of steam and entrained water, and in particular to a separator for use with evaporators used for the distillation of sea water for the production of drinking water. In this case any water entrained in the steam passing from the evaporator to the condenser will carry with it dissolved salts which decrease the potability of the condensate. For-an example-of the type of evaporator and separator to be described, we refer to our copending application Serial No. 90,528.

- The improvements to be described have for their object a greatly improved operation of the evaporator and separator, both in the purity of the potable water obtained and in the quantity produced per day by a given size of evaporator. We have found that a major problem in the design of separators is that of preventing reentrainment of water once separated. Unless the separated water can at once enter a relatively quiet pool of water, it is liable to be forced into the steam stream and carried over into the condenseri Again, we have found that there is a tendency for a, water drop to creep along an otherwise dry surface and make its way into the outlet conduit, where it is readily re-entrained.

In'th'ej construction shown in our co-pending application, above referred to, a chamber bound- "edt-by a vertical cylindrical wall and by upper and lower headers is provided with a tangential v V The steam Y and Waterare thus caused to whirl around for'mixed steam and water.

within the chamber, the heavierwater going to the 'out'side-and running down the cylindrical wall while the steam is leftin the center. A vertical steam outlet conduit extends downwardly through the upper header and has an opening or window in its side through which steam can enter, this opening being surrounded 'by an outeturned flange or apron having the double purpose of streamlining the entrance to out down resistance and blocking the entrance 'of, water'drops which may find themselves on the "outside of the conduit. The bottom of the outlet conduit is closed, in the form shown in the application referred to, by a shallow conical plate reaching nearly to the cylindrical wall but stopping short of it so as to leave an annular "gap through which water can descend to a receiving pool below. While this construction gives excellent performance, we have found that, when an'attempt is made to increase the rate of steam flow through the separator beyond a certain point, water will creep along the surface of the 16 Claims. (c1.1ss s9)=.

top header, thence down the outside :of the. outlet conduit, and will find its way into the window in spite of the apron. Likewise, stepped up operation results in water splashing onto and cree'pingalong thetop of the plate below the conduit, which has the function of protecting the separator chamber from the entrance of water drops thrown up by ebullience in the receiving pool. If water drops do get on top of the plate they tend to creep inwardly to the outlet conduit and when they reach it can, under conditions of high'steam flow, get past the apron and through the window. The construction shown in the present application avoids this creeping action to a remarkable degree, so that an increase in the maximum operating'rate of a given separator of forty or fifty per cent may be attained. Furthermore, it is no longer necessary. to employ two stages to produce the highv degree of :water purity required for drinking purposes. 7

For a detailed description of the invention we refer to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a'median vertical section evaporator and separator;

Fig. 2 is'asection on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is' a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig.1 shows a detail of construction; on an enlarged scale. p r

Sincethe heating section of'the evaporator is substantially the same as that described in the application referred to above, the following description will be limited principally to the separating section lying above the plane X X.

through an The combined evaporator and separator comprises a, generally cylindrical casing H) with top like opening I!) adjacent its lower end. The conduit I8 is closed off at its bottom end by a plate 20, which is of substantially greater diameter than the conduit and whichalso forms the bottom of the window-like opening l9. This opening is streamlined by an apron 2| as in said prior application, the apron serving to reduce in the beaker. isstirred. in one below the plate 23 approximately equal to four times the width of the gap 24 is a flat ring or annular plate 25 secured to the cylindrical wall of the separator chamber and extending inwardly a radial distance also approximately equal to four times the width of the gap. This ring prevents water from being thrown upwardly through the gap 24. The chamber or receiving pool between the ring 25 and the header l3 has anti.- whirl vanes 26 in crossed formation and a float valve 21 respectively serving the samepurposes asin our prior application.

Secured to the'under side of the uppergheader l l is a fin 28, which projectsdownwardly and is formed as a spiralprogressing outwardly in a direction away from the tangential inlet H. The purpose of this fin is to prevent water from reaching the outside of the outlet conduit l8. It accomplishes this result by leading out toward the casing wall it such water drops as may be splashed against the header H from the inlet 11. We have shown this spiral as having approximately one and .a half, convolutions.v If the pitch of the spiral is too steep, water may be flung off the fin-before it reachesend, in whichcase it will be entrained immediately in the whirling'steam and will passthrough the window I9 and up the outlet conduit. I

We have'found that, in order .to increase-the efficiency of the separator by any substantial amount, it is necessary to keep 'alljsurfaces directly associated with the window, 19 as nearly completely dry as possible; Thefin 28 accomplishes this purpose in the upper part of the separator. To keep the bottom part of the outlet' conduit 18, the plate 20, and the topof the anti-flash plate 23 essentially dry,;itl is necessary to reduce, but without turbulence, the angular velocity of the steam in the lower part ofthe separator. This is accomplished in the present embodiment by four anti whirl blades or'vanes 29 which are in the form of straight strips supported above the surface of the plate 23 bytabs 30. The four vanes 29 also reduce the back pressure of the device by reducing the whirling of the steam before it passes into the outlet conduit. Additionally, the slant given to the vanes creates a down draft over the surface of the plate 23, so that any water droplet entrained in the whirling steam will be thrown down upon thus prevented from reaching the window [9.

It is emphasized again that the successful functioning of the separator at high outputrates is largely dependent upon keeping the surfaces-of -members' I8, and 23 substantially dry. In the case of accidental wetting of the plate 23 .due

to momentary overloads or splashingrthere is,

'due to the presence of plate'2tl, a limit to .the

distance inwardly to which the unbalancetof the centrifugal forces at the top andthe'bottom of the separator can causesuch water to move. The tendency for water to move inwardly along plate 23 is analogous to the collection at thecenter of a beaker of'a precip'tatewhen the liquid direction. There is outward movement at the top, downward movethe outer the plate and of .water could accumulate. vantage in quickly clearing the separator of conment along the walls, inward movement at the bottom, and upward movement near the center. By preventing the upward movement within an area larger than the outlet conduit, the plate 20 restricts the inward movement at the bottom as well, and thus keeps any. water drops on plate 23 out of the region in which they might reach the outer surface of the outlet conduit. Relatively large amounts of water may collect underneath the ring 26 and be evaporated or flung ofi without ever reaching the window-like opening [9. In fact when small amounts of water are on the plate 23 they never even reach the collar 22. The plate 28, therefore, may be considered as aiicrding an additional measure of protection against contamination of the steam leaving the chamber.

By having the interior of the outlet conduit is terminated at its lower end by the imperiorate plate 20, there is eliminated any pocket within the conduit in which any appreciable quantity This is a great adtarninated water "following any accidental incorrect adjustment or malfunctioning of the controls. Whe we claim is:

lL A separator of the type having a vertical cylindrical wall and headers forming a chamber, an inlet ior mixed steam and water leading tangentially into said chamber to cause whirling, an upwardly directed outlet conduit for steam substantially coaxial with the chamber, closed at its lower end, and having an opening in its side,

and a plate positioned below the outlet conduit with its outer edge spaced from the cylindrical wall to leave an annular gap; said separator .having in combination therewith a series ofsubstantially radial vanes positioned above but spaced from-said plate and slanted downwardly in a direction away from the tangential inlet.-

2. A separator of the type having a vertical cylindrical wall and headers forming a chamber, an inletfor mixed steam and water leading tangentially into said chamber to cause whirling, an upwardly directed outlet conduit for steam substantially coaxial with the chamber, closed at its lower end, and having an openingin its .drical' wall to leavean annulargap; said separator having in combination therewith a series of substantially radial vaneslpositioned above but spaced from said plate. and slanted downwardly nd a late positioned below the outletc'ond twith its outer edge spaced from. the cylinin a direction awayt ror'n the' tangential inlet, and

an annular ring secured to the cylindrical wall of the chamber belowsaid annular gap and of a radial width greater than said gap.-

3. A separator'ofthe type having a vertical "trimaran wall and headers forming a chamber,

an inlet for'mixed steam and water leading tanig'entially' into said chamber to cause whirling, an

upwardly directed outlet conduit for. steam j'substantially coaxial with the chamber, closed at lowerend, and having anopening in its side,

and'a plate positioned'below the outlet conduit with its .outer edge spacedfroin the cylindrical jwallto" leave an annular gap; said separator havingin combination therewith-a series of substantially' radial vanes positioned. above but spaced from said plate and slanted downwardly in a direction away from the tangential inlet, the upper header of the chamber fbeing upwardly domed, and a fin secured to the under side of said header, projecting downwardly therefrom, and formed as a spiral progressing outwardly in adirectioni away from the tangential inlet. r

4. A separator of the type having a vertical cylindrical wall and headers forming .a chamher, an inlet for mixed steamand water. leading tangentially into said chamber to cause whirling, an upwardly directed outlet conduit for steam substantially coaxial with the or chamber, closed at its lower end, and having an opening in its side, and a plate positioned below the outlet conduit with its outer edge spaced from the cylindrical wall to leave an annular gap; 'said separator having in combination therewith a series of substantially radial vanes positioned above but spaced from said plate and slanted downwardly in a direction away from the tangential inlet, and a fin secured to the under side of the upper header, projecting downwardly therefrom, and formed as a spiral progressing outwardly in a direction away from the tangential inlet.

,5. A separator of the type having a vertical cylindrical wall and headers forming a chamber, an inlet for mixed steam and water leading tangentially into said chamber to cause whirling, an upwardly directed outlet-conduit for steam substantially coaxial with-the chamber, closed at its lower end, and having an opening in its side, and a-plate positioned below the outlet conduit with itsouter edge spaced from the cylindrical wall to leave an annular gap; said separator having in combination therewith an annular plate secured to the cylindrical wall of the chamber below said annular gap and of a radial width greater than said gap, the upper header of the chamber being upwardly domed, and a fin secured to the under side of said header, projecting downwardly therefrom, and formed as a spiral progressing outwardly in a direction away from the tangential inlet.

6. A separator of the type having a vertical cylindrical wall and headers forming a chamber, an inlet for mixed steam and water leading tangentially into said chamber to cause whirling, an upwardly directed outlet conduit for steam substantially coaxial with the chamber, closed at its lower end, and having an opening in its side, and a plate positioned below the outlet conduit with upper header Jofthe chamber being upwardly domed, and am secured to thequnder-side of cylindricalwalland headers forming va chamber,

its outer edge spaced from the cylindrical wall to leave an annular gap; said separator having in combination therewith an annular plate secured to the cylindrical wall of the chamber below said annular gap and of a radial width greater than said gap, and a fin secured to the under side of the upper header, projecting downwardly therefrom, and formed as a spiral progressing outwardly in a direction away from the tangential inlet.

7. A separator of the type having a vertical cylindrical wall and headers forming a chamber, an inlet for mixed steam and water leading tangentially into said chamber to cause whirling, an upwardly directed outlet conduit for steam substantially coaxial with the chamber, closed at its lower end, and having an opening in its side, and a plate positioned below the outlet conduit with its outer edge spaced from the cylindrical wall to leave an annular gap; said separator having in combination therewith a series of substantially radial vanes secured to and spaced from the upper surface of said plate and slanted downwardly in a direction away from the tangential inlet, an annular plate secured to th cylindrical wall of the chamber below said annular gap and of a radial width greater than said gap, the

aninlet for mixed steam and water leading tangentially into said chamber to caus whirling, an

upwardly directed outlet conduit for steam substantially coaxial with the chamber, closed at its lower end, and. having an opening in its side, and a plate positioned below the outlet conduit with its outer edge spaced from the cylindrical wall to leave an annular gap; said separator having in combination therewith a series of substantially radial vanes secured to and spaced from the upper surface of said plate and slanteddownwardly in a direction away from the tangential inlet, anannular plate secured .to the cylindrical wall of the chamber belowsaid annular, gap and of a radial width greater than said gap, and a fin secured to the under side of the upper header,

. projecting downwardly .therefrom, and formed as a spiral progressing outwardly in av direction away from the tangential inlet.

9. A vseparatorof the type having a vertical cylindrical wall and headers forming a chamber, an inlet for mixed steam. and water leading tangentiallyinto said chamber to cause whirling, an upwardly directed outletconduit for steam substantially coaxial with the chamber, closed at its lower end and having an opening in its side; said separator having in combination therewith a fin secured to the under side of the upper header of said chamber, projecting downwardly therefrom, and formed as a spiral progressing outwardly in a direction away from the tangential inlet.

10. A separator as claimed in claim 9 in which the upper header of the chamber is domed upwardly.

11. A separator of the type having a vertical cylindrical wall and headers forming a chamber, an inlet for mixed steam and water leading tangentially into said chamber to cause whirling, an upwardly directed outlet conduit for steam substantially coaxial with the chamber, closed at its lower end and having an opening in its side; said separator having in combination therewith a fin secured to the under side of the upper header of said chamber, projecting downwardly therefrom, and formed as a spiral progressing outwardly in a direction away from the tangential inlet, said fin being spaced from the outlet conduit and from the cylindrical wall of the chamber at its inner and outer ends respectively.

12. A separator as claimed in claim 11 in which the upper header of the chamber is domed upwardly.

13. A separator of the type having a vertical cylindrical wall and headers forming a chamber, an inlet for mixed steam and water leading tangentially into said chamber to cause whirling, an upwardly directed outlet conduit for steam substantially coaxial with the chamber, closed at its lower end, and having an opening in its side, and a plate positioned below the outlet conduit with its outer edge spaced from the cylindrical wall to leave an annular gap; said separator having in combination therewith a second plate between the first plate and said side opening and having a diameter less than that of the first plate but greater than that of the outlet conduit.

1 said second Y '14.;A sepa'trator Df-"thei type having: a vertical -=cylindrica1" wall and iheaders vforming .atchamher, an inlet "for mixed steam". and watenile'a'ding -tangentiallylinto' said chamber toicauseiwhirling,

an I upwardly idirected outlet conduit -for a steam substantially coaxial with the :chamber and-having anopening in its side' adjacentitszlowerend,

and a plate T positioned below .the' outlet conduit with its outeredge spaced from :the cylindrical wall to leave an annular gap said separator-having in combination therewith a second plate betweenth'e fir'st plate and saidiside opening and having a diameter less than that of the-first 'platebut greater than that of theo'utletconduit,

plate being positioned to closeofi the lower i end 1 oflthe outlet conduit and. to form the bottom edge of said side opening. I. a

15. A separator of the type i-havingiaivertical cylindrical walland headersforminga chamber,

an inlet for" mixed: steam:v and "water leading tangentially into said chamber tocause whirling, an upwardlydirected outletconduit for steam substantially eoaxial with thechamber, closed at its lower end, and having an opening'in its side, and a plate in theforrn of afiatconetpositioned below the outlet conduitwithits outer edge spaced from the cylindrical wall-to leave an annular gap; said separator havingl'inv-icombination therewith a. second substantially flat plate between the conioalplate and said side opening and having a diameter less than that of theconical plate but greater than that of the outlet conduit. v

'16. Aseparator of the typelhavingzayertical cylindrical wall andheaders forming a chamber,

an inlet for mixed .steam and water leading atangentially.intowsaid chamber to, cause whirling,

Jan upwardly: directed'cconduit for steamsubstanrtially coaxial with. the chamber and having an opening iniitstside; adjacent, its lower end, and a plate .inthe form of: a flatflcone positioned below .the'outlet conduit withits outer edge spaced from thecylindricalwallto leave an annular gap; said separ'atori having in combination therewith a second substantially fiat plate between the conical:.pla te and said side openin and having a diameter lessthan that of the conical plate but greater'than' that of the outletjconduit, said sec- -file of this patent: i

. end plate being positi0ned;to close off the lower ilend. of the outlet conduit. and to form the bottom 1 edge of said side opening. --.WILLIAM R; WILLIAMSON. 1 JOHN P.1TYSKEW'ICZ.

REFERENCES CITED j v p i The following references are of record in the UNITED "STATES PATENTS Campbell i. J;une-20, 1950 

